Senate Resolution No. 5136

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING Hanns Meissner, PhD. upon the occasion of
his retirement after 39 years of dedicated service
to the Arc of Rensselaer County

WHEREAS, Individuals and organizations devoted to improving the
quality of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity and
self-worth are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; and

WHEREAS, From time to time, society calls upon these individuals and
organizations to be recognized for the significance of their
contributions and efforts to assist others in developing the skills
necessary to be successful, productive citizens; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Hanns
Meissner, PhD. upon the occasion of his retirement after 39 years of
dedicated service to the Arc of Rensselaer County, to be celebrated with
a Party in his honor on Wednesday, May 30, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Hanns Meissner is the Chief Executive Officer of the Arc of
Rensselaer County in Troy, New York, where he has worked to promote the
inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of community
life since 1979; and

WHEREAS, In this capacity, Hanns Meissner has been instrumental in
the transformation of group services to a more compassionate and
individualized one; and

WHEREAS, Hanns Meissner is truly a leader in promoting social
innovations as a way to bring forth vibrant, diverse communities at the
local, state, national, and international levels; and

WHEREAS, Holding a Ph.D. in Organization Development from Union
Institute, Hanns Meissner has consulted with many organizations in
strategic management, organization development, leadership and team
development, and person centered approaches; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, he was an Academic Director and Associate
Professor with Antioch Graduate School in the Department of Organization
and Management for more than 17 years; and

WHEREAS, The author of Creating Blue Space, Hanns Meissner shares
Arc of Rensselaer County's calling to support individuals with
disabilities as citizens of their communities; describing the difficult
journey in challenging old models to create room for new ideas, he
narrates his agency's discovered pathways to leverage their way out of
group-based services through an organizational culture of appreciation
and innovation; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife and two daughters,
who have all shown him love and support and rejoice in his many
achievements; and

WHEREAS, For nearly four decades, Hanns Meissner rendered faithful,
conscientious and valuable service to the Arc of Rensselaer County,
earning the admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate
blending of strength, leadership, intellect, and commitment as that
demonstrated by Hanns Meissner over a lifetime of sacrifice and
dedication to others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Hanns Meissner upon the occasion of his retirement after 39 years
of dedicated service to the Arc of Rensselaer County; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Hanns Meissner, PhD.